Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (2024)

By

Barbara Rolek

Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.

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Updated on 08/24/21

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Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (1)

Mazurka wafers, which have the same name as a traditional Polish folk dance, are flat and crispy cookies (wafle) that are usually part of other richer desserts and act as layers between creamy and sugary fillings. There are other pastries and cakes by the same name, but of different appearance, that are commonly found in Catholic households during Easter to mark the end of the forty days of lent. One can understand the overly rich and sugary preparations that accompany these wafers being served after that time of reflection and repent.

Although their origin is uncertain, mazurkas of many types are found in all countries of Eastern Europe. It's thought the cookies came to Poland via the Turkish during the 17th century. Delicious on their own, these wafers are even better if sandwiched around a thin layer of honey, jam, or chocolate spread and sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

These crispy wafer cookies need very few ingredients, which you might have in your pantry and are easily mixed. The batter of eggs, sugar, vanilla, clarified butter, and flour is cooked in a Polish wafer iron—if you don't have access to one a Scandinavian goro or krumkake iron will work perfectly. The cookies are then cooled off before assembling them in a cake, although nothing beats a fresh wafer with a cup of coffee or tea. These cookies are very fragile and can become soggy if not stored in an airtight container.

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs, at room temperature,separated

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar

  • 6 ounces clarified butter, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 3 tablespoons half-and-half, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (2)

  2. In a standing mixer or big mixing bowl, cream the egg yolks with the confectioner's sugar until light in color.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (3)

  3. Stir 4 ounces of clarified butter and the vanilla extract into the egg yolk mixture. Mix well.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (4)

  4. Add the flour and beat vigorously until you get a batter that is thick in texture but pourable, like a pancake batter. If too thick, dilute with half and half, a spoonful at a time.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (5)

  5. In a medium bowl, whip egg whites to soft peaks.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (6)

  6. Carefully fold egg whites into the prepared batter.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (7)

  7. Place the wafer iron over a gas or electric burner on medium heat. Brush with the remaining clarified butter and spoon in just enough batter to cover the surface.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (8)

  8. Close the iron lid and cook for approximately 90 seconds. Flip and cook for an additional 90 seconds.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (9)

  9. Carefully remove the cookie to a platter to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve right away, or store tightly covered to avoid becoming soggy.

    Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (10)

What is Clarified Butter?

Similar to ghee, but of a slightly different flavor, clarified butter is made by simmering unsalted butter and skimming the milk solids and water. The leftover golden-colored fat is clarified butter, great for cooking and sautéing as its smoke point is higher than regular butter. Ghee is further cooked, so although similar in principle, it has a nuttier flavor because it's been simmered for longer than plain clarified butter.

How to Assemble a Wafer Mazurka Torte or Filled Cookie

For an easy and delectable filled cookie made out of these sweet wafers you need just a few additional ingredients:

To make a sandwich cookie, spread one plain side of a wafer with the filling once the wafers are completely cool. Top with another wafer, plain side down. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

To use these cookies to build a torte of 6 to 8 layers, you need:

  • 1 cup of filling of your choice
  • 8 ounces of melted chocolate

Build the torte alternating cookies and filling, and then pour the melted chocolate over the top. When set, cut into small squares to serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
122Calories
8g Fat
10g Carbs
2g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories122
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g11%
Saturated Fat 5g24%
Cholesterol 65mg22%
Sodium 18mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 8mg1%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 25mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Polish Wafer Cookies (Wafle) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best flour for waffles? ›

On the flip side, waffles aren't as flaky-delicate as baked goods, making pastry flour too fine for the job. Good old AP, or all-purpose, flour is where it's at. If you want to sprinkle in a tablespoon or two of buckwheat or rye flour for added nutty heft, go for it.

What is a wafer cookie? ›

A wafer is a crisp, often sweet, very thin, flat, light biscuit, often used to decorate ice cream, and also used as a garnish on some sweet dishes.

What is the secret to making good waffles? ›

Add cornstarch.

If you're making waffles with baking powder and baking soda, adding cornstarch to the mix will get you waffles that are crisp on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside. Because waffle recipes vary, start with ¼ cup and work in as much as ½ cup to get the desired effect.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for waffles? ›

We use the two together for the fluffiest, best tasting waffles. The baking powder really does most of the lifting and makes the waffles fluffy, and the baking soda reacts with the buttermilk for tender waffles with a tasty tang (and helps contribute to giving them a little lift, too).

What is the difference between wafers and waffles? ›

The term wafer is often confused with waffle, but between the two products there are major differences: waffles have a soft texture with a moisture of 10% or more, while wafers have a crispy texture, are thin, and with a moisture content of 1-2% [7] .

Why are wafers so expensive? ›

Most wafers are made using the Czochralski process. In this process, a seed crystal is pulled from molten silicon to form a cylindrical boule. This method is expensive and requires a lot of capital investment. However, there are other more inexpensive ways to make a silicon wafer.

How are wafers cookies made? ›

Beat butter and sugar in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla extract. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and mix the dry ingredients thoroughly into butter mixture. Drop cookies about 2 inches apart, 1 teaspoon at a time, onto ungreased baking sheets.

What makes waffles taste better? ›

Any tips on how to make waffles from mix taste better?
  1. Use clarified butter to cook them.
  2. Add orange zest.
  3. Add some cardamom.
  4. Try almond extract in place of vanilla.
Dec 23, 2022

What are waffles made of which flour? ›

All you need to make our crispy waffles are ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen: all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, butter, milk, and eggs. Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl, the wet ingredients in another, then add the wet to the dry and mix together—that's it!

Why are my waffles not light and fluffy? ›

Making pancake and waffle batter ahead of time is a huge no-no and will lead to flat, dense results every time. Even letting your batter hang out for just a few minutes after you've mixed it before you start ladling it onto the griddle will lead to less fluffy results.

How do I get my waffles crispy? ›

7 Life Saving Tips to Make Crispy Waffles
  1. Bring the Eggs to Room Temperature.
  2. Grease the Waffle Iron With Cooking Spray.
  3. Melt the Butter.
  4. Add a Tint of Liquor to Your Baking.
  5. Use Buttermilk.
  6. Ran Out of Buttermilk? Try an Alternative.
  7. Bake Them in the Oven for That Crisp Finish.

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